Accessing Groceries

Coles has dedicated shopping times for vulnerable members of our communities,this includes carers who have a state or territory issued Companion Card, and have basic essentials stored behind the front counter for purchase.

Coles has advised shoppers that on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Coles Community Hours will be for elderly customers and others in need of assistance who simply need to present a government-issued identification card including:

Pensioner Concession Card

Companion Card

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

Health Care Card

Seniors Card

Disability Card

Store managers will use sensible discretion and compassion to ensure vulnerable customers who require access are able to complete their shopping during Community Hour.

Coles has announced a dedicate online service for those vulnerable customers who have the approved identification listed above:

'Coles Online Priority Service (COPS) will be launching soon for customers who are unable to easily access a Coles Supermarket. This service will allow these customers to purchase their essential items online and have them delivered to their home.'

Woolworths has a dedicated community hour for people with a disability, their carers and seniors onMondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Please see the their media release here.

They have also reduced trading hours at 41 stores to 11am - 6pm, so that they can be used as Priority Home Delivery Hubs, enabling staff to pick online orders for Priority Assictance deliveries to the elderly, people with a disability, those with compromised immune systems or people in isolation. You can apply to receive Priority Assistance by completing the form here.

Woolworths has also partnered with Meals on Wheels in NSW to deliver toilet paper.

NDIS participants are now eligible for priority home delivery servces from Australia's major grovery stores. For more inforation, visit our NDIS Information page.

It’s also a good idea to contact your local smaller supermarket, butcher, fruit and vegetable store and chemist to see if they will home deliver. Many local businesses are offering delivery during the pandemic. Some local restaurants and cafes are offering take home meals and take away coffees and are providing their customers with the methods they are using to keep staff and customers safe.

The Queensland Government has also advised that it will temporarily halt closing time restrictions so supermarkets and chemists can stay open longer.

Banking

The Australian Banking Association has announced that it will fast track the issuance of debit cards for those Australians who currently use cash or EFTPOS. This means that isolating or quarantined Australian’s will be able to shop online or over the phone. For more information click here.